Ogier takes WRC lead with Mexico win

Motorsport / 10 March 2014, 10:53am

Alan Baldwin

LEON, MEXICO - MARCH 09: Sebastien Ogier of France and Julien Ingrassia of France compete in their Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC during Day Three of the WRC Mexico on March 9, 2014 in Leon, Mexico. (Photo by Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images,)

Leon, Mexico - World rally champion Sebastien Ogier took the lead in the overall standings on Sunday after winning the Rally of Mexico ahead of Volkswagen team mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

The victory, by a comfortable one minute 12.6 seconds, was Ogier's second of the season and the team's first 1-2 of 2014.

Belgian Thierry Neuville was a distant third for Hyundai's first podium finish - after having to stop twice on the final road section to the formal finish in Leon to top up a leaking radiator with a giant bottle of the rally sponsor's beer he'd been given after the Power Stage.

KUBICA ON A ROLL (OR TWO)

Britain's Elfyn Evans finished a career best fourth in a Ford while Polish team mate, former Formula One driver Robert Kubica, retired after rolling his car twice in two days.

Ogier, who has now won 18 world championship rallies, leads Latvala by just three points after three rounds of the championship.

“It was the perfect week, a victory in the rally and the Power Stage,” said Ogier. “I came here very angry after a small mistake in Sweden and that's the best way to restart my winning ways in the championship.”